February 23 - John Blow; George Frideric Handel (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for February 23rd are here: George Frideric Handel (2020), John Blow; George Frideric Handel (2021), Handel (2022), (2023), (2024), (2025)

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George Frideric Handel (23 February 1685 – 14 April 1759) was one of the greatest, and still most popular, of Baroque composers.

John Blow (bapt. 23 February 1649 – 1 October 1708) was a significant English composer and organist. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Two In One

By the strange machinations of Fate

Both Handel and Blow share this date,

A thing that is nifty

For Brits who are thrifty,

Since it saves on the china and plate.

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Blow by Blow

Venus and Adonis is considered by some to be either a semi-opera or a masque. -- Wikipedia

Five lines aren't enough for the task,

If you should be tempted to ask

If the musical show

By composer John Blow

Was an opera or merely a masque.

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Two Handelian Limericks Sharing an Opening

(1) Attention Span

Messiah enjoys popularity

And thus it is never a rarity,

But will sheer repetition 

As a yearly tradition

Fatigue an impatient posterity.

(2) The Rest of the Story

Messiah enjoys popularity

In spite of the earnest severity

Of parts two and three,

Which for some tend to be

A trial of sacred austerity.

 

 

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February 22 - Marni Nixon; Joachim Nicolas Eggert (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for February 22nd are here:  Marni Nixon (2020), Johann Ambrosius Bach; Johann Nikolaus Forkel (2021), Niels Gade; Nacio Herb Brown (2022), Jan August Vitásek (2023), Johann Ambrosius Bach (2024), and Jadwiga Szajna-Lewandowska (2025)

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Marni Nixon (22 February 1930 – 24 July 2016) was an American soprano best known for dubbing the vocal parts in important movie musicals.  She also had success singing contemporary classical music. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Always a Bridesmaid

Marni Nixon wasn't seen,

Although her voice came from the screen.

She sang the need vocal part,

Which synched with engineering art,

Provided voices not their own

For actresses much better known.

 

 

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Joachim Nicolas Eggert (22 February 1779 – 14 April 1813) was a Swedish composer and musical director. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Claim to Fame

 

On 14 May 1807, Eggert's 3rd symphony was performed. This places it a year prior the premiere of Beethoven's 5th which makes Eggert's 3rd symphony one of the earliest symphonies to include trombone throughout.  -- adapted from Wikipedia 

Joachim Nicolas Eggert was a Swede

   And though he's not well known,

His grand symphonic writing took the lead

   In using the trombone.

 

 

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February 21 - Stefano Donaudy (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for February 21 are here: Charlotte Church (2020), Nina Simone; Charles-Marie Widor (2021), and (2022), Léo Delibes; Johann Wenzel Kalliwoda (2023). Léo Delibes; Stefano Donaudy (2024), and Charles-Marie Widor (2025)

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Stefano Donaudy (21 February 1879 – 30 May 1925) was an Italian composer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Past and Present 

Consider the case of Donaudy,

Who took up his pencil and vowed he

Would write his songs cast

In a style from the past... ---

And they're charming, if just touch dowdy.

 

 

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February 20 - Mary Garden; Nicola Antonio Manfroce (The Musical Birthday Series, 7th Annual Cycle)

Previous posts for February 20th are here:  Carl Czerny (2020), Nancy Wilson (2021), Johann Peter Salomon; Adalbert Gyrowetz (2022), Charles-Auguste de Beriot (2023), Carl Czerny (2024), and Carl Czerny (2025)

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Mary Garden (20 February 1874 – 3 January 1967) was a Scottish-American lyric soprano with a substantial career in France and America in the first third of the 20th century.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quiet Impression

When taking on the role of Melisande

Mary Garden had success beyond

What might have been reliably predicted

For any role so vocally restricted.

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Nicola Antonio Manfroce (20 February 1791 – 9 July 1813) was an Italian composer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

T.B. or not T.B.

Although already weakened by tuberculosis, Manfroce the young composer devoted himself intensely to completing Hecuba, to the detriment of his health. After the premiere, the opera was praised for its innovation and dramatic power, and audiences hailed Manfroce as one of the most gifted composers of his generation — adapted from Wikipedia.

Manfroce, gasping for each breath,

Was in a losing race with Death.

He finished Hecuba in time;

The critics thought the work sublime.

But after that acclaimed debut

Manfroce dies at twenty-two,

And that is why he's someone who

Is quite unknown to me and you.

 

 

 

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